Tips to Choose Air Conditioner Units

Look for the Energy Star Logo

• Pick an Energy Star-certified air conditioner unit. Such units use approximately 10 percent less energy than traditional units, thus saving you big bucks on your energy bill. Plus, it's good for the planet, too. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that, if every home in America exchanged its traditional air conditioner for an Energy Star-certified unit, it would reduce greenhouse emissions as much as removing 80,000 cars from the country's roads.

Review the British Thermal Unit Rate

• Every air conditioner unit comes labeled with its hourly British thermal unit rate. The rate you want varies depending on the size of the room that you wish to cool. Air conditioners with a Btu/hour rate of 6,500 or less will work for 300-square-foot rooms or smaller. Those with a 7,000 to 8,200 Btu/hour rate work for 400-square-foot rooms, while rooms that measure 650 square feet need an air conditioner that rings in at approximately 12,500 Btu/hour.

Know Your Design Options

• Air conditioner units traditionally come in four major design forms, and the best kind varies depending on your cooling needs. Portable units work best for very small rooms and for people who don't need a continuous, permanent solution, such as someone who moves a lot. Window-mounted units are the most popular, and also generally the cheapest; they simply slide into your window where they're bolted in. Wall-mounted units are permanent and often look nicer, since they're fitted to your wall's construction. Finally, window/wall-mounted units give you the option of both design styles, in case you're not sure what you want.

Check for Extra Features

• The cheapest air conditioner units generally give you a no-frills approach to cooling. If you're willing to pay more money, you can often get a unit that offers more advanced features that can enhance your ability to use the air conditioner. Popular features that you may want include: airflow direction vents, that let you adjust where the cool air is blown; timers, so you can set the air conditioner to turn on and off only when you're home, thus saving you money; and digital thermometers, which help you to more precisely set your cooling needs.